Method, system and computer readable medium for brokering the purchase and sale of glass cullet

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for brokering the purchase and/or sale of mixed-color glass and/or cullet, optionally over a computer network. In one embodiment, the broker facilitates the purchase and/or sale of three color mixed cullet between beneficiators, MRFs and/or glass plants, in order to supply, for example, glass plants with and/or allow glass plants to purchase desired quantity and/or quality (e.g., cleanliness) of cullet.

1. A computer implemented and user-assisted method of brokering a purchase and sale of glass cullet, comprising the steps of:
 storing, with a broker, cullet data accessible by a first computer comprising at least one of a quantity and price of cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers; 
 receiving, from a buyer using a second computer, a query at the first computer pertaining to a purchase of a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address; 
 querying a data repository associated with the first computer to determine if a stored quantity, purchase price, and location of cullet satisfies the query; 
 generating by the first computer, responsive to the query, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet in accordance with the query; 
 receiving by the broker payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and 
 determining by the first computer a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet to the buyer specified address. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet price range. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of the broker providing the seller name to the buyer. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of making payment to the seller. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the payment is made from the broker to the seller. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data repository comprises data comprising at least one of a buyer's name, address, and telephone number. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining if the buyer is registered; and 
 if the buyer is not registered, storing buyer data comprising at least one of buyer name and address. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying, responsive to the querying step, cullet data purchase results that do not exactly match the query. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the displayed cullet data further comprises at least one of a price per ton, a seller name, a seller location, a quantity in tons, a percent flint, a delivery date, and a pickup date. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cullet data further comprises at least one of a price per ton, a seller name, a seller location, a quantity in tons, a percent flint, a delivery date, and a pickup date. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cullet comprises at least two colored mixed cullet. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass and amber glass. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass and flint glass. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the cullet comprises flint glass and amber glass. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cullet comprises green glass, amber glass, and flint glass. 
     
     
       19. A system for brokering a purchase and sale of glass cullet over a computer network, comprising:
 a first computer for storing, with a broker, data pertaining to available cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers; 
 the first computer receiving a cullet purchase inquiry from a buyer, comprising a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address; 
 the first computer generating, using the stored cullet data and responsive to the received cullet purchase inquiry, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet within the specified distance that satisfies the received cullet purchase inquiry; 
 the first computer receiving, with the broker, payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and 
 the first computer determining a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet within the specified distance to the buyer specified address. 
 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       21. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       22. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet price range. 
     
     
       23. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range. 
     
     
       24. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the first computer causes displaying, responsive to querying a data repository, on a second computer, cullet data that closely matches the inquiry. 
     
     
       25. The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the first computer causes displaying, responsive to querying a data repository, on a second computer, cullet data that matches the inquiry. 
     
     
       26. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
 store, with a broker, data pertaining to a quantity and price of cullet for sale from a plurality of sellers; 
 query a data repository to determine if a stored quantity and price of cullet satisfies a buyer inquiry pertaining to a purchase of a quantity and price of cullet within a specified distance of a buyer specified address that satisfies the buyer inquiry; 
 generate, responsive to the inquiry, at least one name of a seller that can provide a quantity and price of cullet within the specified distance that satisfies the buyer inquiry; 
 receive, by a broker, payment for the purchase of the seller provided cullet; and 
 determine a least cost shipping route from a location of the seller provided cullet to the buyer specified address. 
 
     
     
       27. The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein the quantity of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       28. The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein the price of cullet for sale comprises a range. 
     
     
       29. The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein the buyer query comprises a cullet price range. 
     
     
       30. The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein the buyer inquiry comprises a cullet quantity range. 
     
     
       31. The computer program product according to  claim 26 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
 receive at least one of payment and payment data from the buyer; and 
 transmit at least one of payment and payment data to the seller. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first computer is further configured to determine a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet. 
     
     
       34. The computer program product of  claim 26 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to determine a seller location having available cullet for sale that is closest to a buyer location for receiving cullet.